Utility station automated design system and method

ABSTRACT

A system and method provide a computer-based automated tool for quickly and efficiently designing utility stations. One example of such a utility station is a unit substation. The tool includes a database of user-selective predrawn symbols that are associated with a pre-defined and stored station template. Each of the respective symbols have associated therewith attributes that are computer recognizable as being attributes associated with the respective symbols, and may be combined into a list, when the symbols are selected for use with the station. The tool presents a graphical rendering of the symbols arranged on the station, after the respective symbols have been identified.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is related to, and claims the benefit of theearlier filing date of, U.S. Provisional patent application Serial No.60/128,560 (Attorney Docket 7910-0032-13 PROV), filed Apr. 9, 1999,entitled “Utility Station Automated Design System and Method,” theentirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention pertains to automated design systems andmethods for planning and designing utility stations. More particularly,the present invention relates to automated design systems, methods andcomputer program product, for designing, and estimating materials andcosts for utility stations, such as a unit substation or other componentof a public utility system, such as an electric power generation,transmission and distribution system.

[0004] 2. Discussion of the Background

[0005] In 1999, a typical unit substation design and development projectcosts approximately 1 million dollars and takes roughly one year fromconception to completion. The typical process begins with an engineerwho prepares a sketch of the substation, and sends the sketch to adrafting area, where a draftsperson takes the sketch, along withassociated notes prepared by the engineer, and develops a workingconstruction set (i.e., a set of drawings with associated symbols andnotes). The draftsperson then gives a draft construction set to theengineer for review. At this time, during the review, the engineer wouldeither modify the construction set, or add additional information to theconstruction set and then send the modified construction set back to thedraftsperson for redrafting to incorporate the changes. The draftspersoncompletes the changes and sends the changes back to the engineer. Thisiterative process can repeat as many as four or more times. Once theconstruction set is finalized, roughly three or more months have expiredsince the initiation of the project.

[0006] As presently recognized by the inventors, the conventional designprocess presumes that every unit substation has to be redesigned by theengineer, even though approximately 90% of the components are the samebetween substations. In this way, the engineer has to address eachcomponent of the system, even though the engineer may have already donesimilar work on previous projects. After the initial design is done, theengineer then prepares a materials list of the components and prepares acost estimate.

[0007] Regarding how the details are developed in the drawings, theEngineer is provided with a “one line diagram” from a planningdepartment and includes an electrical representation of the symbols foreach device to be included in the substation. Conventionally,draftspeople use CAD (computer aided design) programs, like AutoCAD, adraftsperson oriented program. The draftsperson then draws the componentparts of the system using the CAD program. After a CAD drawing has beenprepared, the engineer will provide the CAD drawing to the planningdepartment, who at that time may decide to further modify thesubstation, so as to change components required therein, or change thesystem performance to meet perceived customer demands. If the planningdepartment does change the drawings, another engineering and draftingoperation is required in order to produce a final set of constructiondrawings.

[0008] These construction drawings are detail oriented, such that thedrawings may be provided to a contractor for building the substation.For example, the construction drawings will have detailed features, suchas conduit placement, foundation placement and grounding placement. Thedrawings also show the connections amongst the different subcomponentsused in the substation. These connections can be very detailed, perhapsshowing a small connector fitting between pieces of bus lines. Thisdetail may become very cumbersome because a unit substation may havebetween two and three hundred electrical connectors. Furthermore, theunit substation may have three to four hundred feet of aluminum businfrastructure, a couple thousand feet of copper in the ground, and onthe order of 20 to 50 foundations. After the drawings are complete, theengineer then uses the drawings to fill out a materials list for theequipment to be ordered. Generally, it is a time consuming process forthe engineer to scrutinize the different components on the drawing andlist the same on a materials list.

[0009] As recognized by the present inventors, the iterative processbetween the engineer and the draftsperson is a time consuming process,and an expensive procedure for designing substations. The conventionalprocess presumes that each substation has different characteristics thatmandate the use of a significant amount of engineering, as well asdraftspersons' time in order to properly design the substation. However,as presently recognized, there can be a significant amount of redundancybetween respective substations, that if, properly characterized could bean advantage in streamlining the design process.

[0010] Another limitation with the conventional practice, is that theiterative design process is prone to error, based on the number ofdifferent people involved in the process. Furthermore, because eachsubstation is custom designed, it is more difficult for planningdepartments, as well as contractors who will build the substation tointerpret the drawings because each set of construction plans differsfrom one substation to the next.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to addressthe above-described limitations of existing systems and methods. Whilethe present section of this document is directed to a summary of theinvention, a limited number of attributes associated with the presentinvention are described herein. However, a more complete description isprovided in the section entitled “Detailed Description of the PreferredEmbodiments”.

[0012] The present invention is directed to a utility station automateddesign system and method that allows an engineer to design a unitsubstation, or other utility station, as well as prepare a materialslist and cost estimate, in several hours, rather than several months, asis the case with conventional design practices. A feature of the presentinvention, is a computer-based tool having a database that holds bothstandard “substation templates”, as well as equipment “symbols” that maybe applied to one another, as selected by a user, via a graphical userinterface to produce a 3D drawing set. The user is presented with aseries of options that are logically arranged so as to guide the userthrough the process of designing the unit substation, using the symbolsand templates, as selected by the user. Moreover, the user is requestedto select a predetermined “standard” substation architecture, and onceselected, the user is presented with a series of options regarding whichcomponents are to be included within the standard configuration. Onceselected, symbols associated with the selected components, are selectedby the user from a database, and overlaid in layers with the assistanceof a computer aided drawing package. In this way, the symbols arearranged and presented on a display, or printed as a set of constructiondrawings, so that an overall unit substation system may be designed in arelatively short period of time. Subsequently, the user may be requestedto identify whether the user would like to modify the existing design,or prepare a list of building materials and cost estimates associatedwith the respective components in the unit substation, or other utilitystation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of theattendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the samebecomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer network according to thepresent invention, that interconnects a user terminal, with a printserver, and database server;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a process flow for designing a new 115kV unit substation;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a process flow for modifying an existingsubstation facility;

[0017]FIGS. 4A and 4B are a flow chart, showing a logical process flow,for either designing a new substation, modifying an existing facility,or preparing an estimate/material list;

[0018]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a 3-D rendering of a substationthat may be designed from drawings produced with the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 6 is a graphical user interface, showing a library of userselectable “symbols” that may be incorporated into a substation beingdesigned;

[0020]FIG. 7 is a plan view of components included in a unit substationbeing designed;

[0021]FIG. 8 is a perspective 3-D rendering of the station shown in FIG.7;

[0022]FIG. 9 is an example display of a pull down menu, showing variousoptions made available to a user when determining whether to design anew station, or modify an existing substation;

[0023] FIGS. 10A-10B are respective display screens, showing differentuser-selectable components for inclusion in a substation; and

[0024]FIG. 11 is a display of a dialogue box, requesting informationregarding a cost estimate and list of materials associated with thedesign of a substation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsdesignate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is illustrated a utilitystation automated design system configured to allow a user to design autility station, such as a unit substation, and prepare a drawingconstruction set, as well as a cost estimate and materials list.

[0026] Although the present invention is discussed with respect todesign of a utility station, the approach, as recognized by one ofordinary skill in the relevant art, is applicable to other types offacilities, including water facilities as well as gas facilities. Forexample, the water facilities encompass wells/ well houses, pumpstations, lift stations, pressure regulator stations, complex pipingarrangements, small to moderately sized water and wastewater treatmentplants and site layouts, and tank sites. The gas facilities can becategorized as follows: transmission facilities, distributionfacilities, and production and gathering facilities. These three typesof gas facilities involve interconnects with other pipeline companies'facilities, regulator (pressure reducing) stations, metering stations(e.g., delivery stations, border stations, and check meters), pressureand flow monitoring equipment, valve stations, and, compressor stations.

[0027] Before turning to the specific features contained within FIG. 1,an overview of a method and system implemented by the present inventionis in order. The present invention was made in recognition of efficiencylimitations with the conventional substation design processes employedin the utilities industry, where significant design times are expectedfor preparing unit substations (or other components of a publicutility). Conventionally, significant amounts of time are allocated fora CAD manager and senior engineers, regarding preparation ofconstruction sets (drawing packages that describe the unit substation).One of the limitations with the conventional approach was determined tobe that each CAD operator had a different skill level and differentideas regarding how particular drawings should be laid out. This lack ofuniformity regarding how the CAD operators interpreted the informationprovided by the engineers, resulted in inconsistent systemconfigurations, and inefficient, iterative communications between theCAD operator and the engineer.

[0028] In light of such problems, the present inventors determined thatit was possible to use AutoLISP routines that would be used to preparemenus to import different information regarding company information andlike into the drawing set. For example, a feature of the invention is touse a AutoLISP routine to provide on a pull down menu, such as the sizeof the drawings, such as “A”, “B”, . . . , or the drawing scale. Thisroutine also sets line types, text, layering, line widths and the like,so that respective drawing sets from a particular company, will beuniform in appearance.

[0029] Aside from importing corporate information into a particulardrawing, the present inventors also determined that it would beadvantageous and commercially efficient to prepare pre-approvedtwo-dimension (2-D) symbols, or 3-D symbols as will be discussed, for anentire station of equipment, complete with foundations, conduits, andgrounding at all voltage levels used by the corporation. Through the useof layer control in AutoCAD, each of the pre-approved and storedequipment symbols are placed in an equipment layer, the foundationsymbols to be placed in a foundation layer and so on. In this way,symbols can be associated with a particular drawing, thereby allowingthe user of the system to automatically specify the symbols (and thecomponents associated therewith) to be automatically retrieved andoverlaid on the drawing. In this way, when construction drawings areprepared, where construction drawings include a plan view, section view,conduit plan, grounding plan, foundation plan and the like, depending onthe drawing type selected, the AutoLISP routine turns layers off and onuntil only the foundations are visible, if the foundation plan is theone that is to be displayed. Dimensioning work for the respectivecomponents shown in the drawing is done automatically with AutoCAD.

[0030] In an alternative embodiment, pre-approved and pre-drawn 3-Dsymbols are a substitute for, or are used with 2-D symbols. Using 3-Dsymbols, allows for not only perspective view, but also allows a user tochange the viewer's reference point in 3-D. Furthermore, a 3-D model isautomatically produced which is capable of being rendered. The 3-Drenderings produced with the 3-D model can be used in governmentalpermit hearings. Typically, such work cannot be produced in the typicalCAD facility, but rather are provided to an outside drafting firm, withboth cost and time penalties associated therewith.

[0031] By saving the respective symbols in a library, accessible todifferent users, by way of the computer network, users may extract therespective symbols when designing a unit substation. So as to avoidhaving the end user, perhaps an engineer, become familiar with 3-Ddesign practices, the present invention incorporates dialog boxes,hierarchically arranged, and AutoLISP routines that allow the user todesign a 3-D structure from a plan view. In this way, the user candesign the system, by providing only minimal information, regarding thesize of the bus, bus spacing and the like, and the AutoLISP routinemakes the additions to the drawing on the correct layers at the correctheights as a 3-D, custom model would do.

[0032] In view of the present inventors' observations, much of thestructure within a substation is, or at least could be, reused. Thepresent inventors determined that aside from symbols, substation-leveltemplates, (i.e., pre-approved substation layouts) may be used topreposition respective components within the substation. In this way,the engineer need not spend time positioning respective components, butrather needs to only select symbols, and have the symbols automaticallyplaced in the pre-approved locations.

[0033] One feature of using components as part of a standardizationdesign process, is to standardize different sizes of transformers topredetermined set levels. For example, in a preferred embodiment, threedifferent top-ratings of transformers are used: 14 MVA, 22 MVA, and 33MVA. Other ratings may be used as well. Furthermore, the standard unitsubstation also includes one of four types of switch gear: 2 feeder, 3feeder, 4 feeder, and stations with a main breaker. To this end, in thepreferred embodiment, different unit substation “templates” includethree standard layouts, referred to herein as “single unitright”,“single unit-left”, and “two unit designs”. Other standard layouts maybe used as well, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in thesubstation design art, based on the description contained herein.

[0034] An advantage of the present invention is that the respectivesymbols used within the substations have associated therewith differentattributes which are stored in memory. These attributes are associatedwith symbols by file name, for example, and stored in one or both ofACCESS data files, and EXCEL spread sheets, where both ACCESS and EXCELare available through Microsoft Corporation.

[0035] Using the system and method described herein, an engineer canproduce a construction set of a unit substation in approximately 3hours. The engineer reviews a description of the substation provided bya planning department and then initiates an AutoCAD session. Theengineer then selects the type of drawing from the pull down menupresented on a display screen. Subsequently the engineer selects a typeof station to be designed, such as a new 115 kV unit substation. Othertypes of stations or other differently rated substations may be designedas well. After selecting the type of substation, the engineer ispresented with a series of dialog boxes, logically arranged in sequence,for presenting choices regarding the components to be used in theoverall system. The engineer responds to the respective prompts, and theresponses are saved in memory. Once all the entries are complete, theengineer executes a compilation routine by acknowledging the engineerhas made all of the selections, and AutoCAD begins to draw the station,by retrieving the pre-drawn symbols from a library and applying therespective symbols to the selected pre-designed substation template.Subsequently, the engineer can request, or as an alternative the requestmay be automatically produced, to provide a cost and estimate materialslist for the materials needed for the construction of the unitsubstation. Thus, rather than taking three months or more to produce theconstruction set, the engineer can complete the job, reliably andefficiently in approximately three hours.

[0036] Turning to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a utility stationautomated design system according to the present invention. Inparticular, a network 90 is included, such as an Ethernet, FDDI network,Intranet or Extranet, at least a portion of which may be an Internetconnection or a public switch telephone network (PSTN) connection. Thenetwork 90 allows a general purpose server 100, as well as an AutoCADserver 120 and a print server 133 to communicate with different userstations 140 and 150. The general purpose server 100 includes a memory105 that hosts application software, such as EXCEL, ACCESS and the like.The application software hosted on the memory 105, is accessible via thenetwork 90 by each of the user terminals 140 and 150. The generalpurpose server 100 also includes a monitor 103 and computer 101, with aCPU, internal memory, peripheral devices, internal communication bus,RAM and ROM memory, and the like contained therein.

[0037] The AutoCAD server 120 includes a memory 126 that includes theAutoCAD application, custom menu structure, custom macros, custom listroutines and custom symbols, as were discussed above. Informationproduced at the computer 122 may be viewed on the display 124, oralternatively other information provided via the computer 122 is viewedon the display 124. The print sever 130 includes its own computer 132,and display 134. The computer 132 contains a communication mechanismthat communicates over the network 90 so that information may be passedto a plotter 136 for producing hardcopies of drawings sets. Userworkstation 140 includes a computer 142 and monitor 144, where thecomputer 142 communicates via an input/output (10) device 146 forcommunicating with external devices. The external devices may be remoteterminals, or even local peripherals, such as a mouse, keyboard,external memory and an interface for loading symbols if necessary andthe like. Similarly, user terminal 150 includes a computer 152, monitor156, and I/O device 154.

[0038] As part of the AutoCAD server memory 126, the present inventionincludes a database of custom symbols, where each of the symbols are 3-Ddrawing files of components used in a unit substation. Held in theACCESS database and/or EXCEL spreadsheet in memory 105, are attributesthat are associated with the custom symbols held in the database ofsymbols in the memory 126. In addition, AutoLISP routines perform thefunctional operations interfacing function for communicating withAutoCAD, and thus perform the separate processing steps describedherein. These AutoLISP routines are also contained in the memory 126.Furthermore, both the menu arrangement as presently discussed herein, aswell as macros, that help to assist in performing routine repetitiveoperations are also stored in the memory 126.

[0039] Typically, a user will design a substation from one of the userterminals 140 or 150. In the embodiment described in FIG. 1, the userterminal retrieves the information from the general purpose server 100,and AutoCAD server 120 as required. Alternatively, all of the componentsand software may be contained on one workstation or computer, so that nonetwork is required and all work may be performed locally. As a furtheralternative, additional external computing devices may be used as wellto perform some or all of the computations and routing of information.In these cases, external communication links, such as through the publicswitch telephone network, Internet, or even proprietary wireless andwired links may be used as well.

[0040] The AutoCAD application included in the memory 126, may beAutoCAD 2000, although other versions of AutoCAD may be used as well,such as AutoCAD release 14, the on-line help section documentation forwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

[0041]FIG. 2 is a flowchart, showing a process according to the presentinvention for designing a new unit substation. The process flow shown inFIG. 2, corresponds with the top horizontal row of operations shown inFIG. 4, as will be discussed later. In FIG. 2, the process begins instep S1, where the user launches the AutoCAD application. The processthen proceeds to step S3, where the user selects, via a pull-down menu,that the user would like to implement a 3-D layout/equipment operation.In step S3, the user may then use sub-menus to select a new standard 115kV unit substation from a pull-down menu, as shown in Step S13. On theother hand, also shown in the pull-down menu, is the option for the userto select an estimate/material list operation from a pull-down menu instep S15. Each of these steps will be discussed in more detail below.

[0042] If the user selects to design a new standard 115 kV unitsubstation, or other station as preprogrammed into a set of templates,the user selects this option. The process then flows to step S5, wherethe user is presented with a design dialog box associated with a“template” 115 kV unit substation. An example of the dialog box is shownin FIG. 10A where a series of information prompts is presented for theuser to select components of the 115 kV design. Each of the respectiveselections are shown in FIG. 10A. Before entering the details of the 115kV design, the respective voltages used, in a preferred embodiment arediscussed herein.

[0043] At a generation plant in the U.S., generators typically generateapproximately 22,000 volts. This voltage is then stepped up toapproximately 345,000 volts for cross-country transmission. This highvoltage is used in order to minimize resistive losses. However, the 345kV is too high for use in end use applications, and therefore thevoltage is stepped down to 115,000 volts in some cases, where the115,000, as well as the 345,000 volts are all three phase voltages. Theunit substation converts the voltage from 115 kV down to 12,470 volts.The 12,470 volts then is distributed around cities and the like andconnects to transformers that hang on utility poles in residentialareas, for example. It is these transformers that converts theelectrical power down to the 120-240 volts used in the United States andtypical applications. While the present discussion has been directedtowards power distribution in the United States, the particular numbersherein, may be adjusted for use in other countries around the world.

[0044] Returning to FIG. 10A, the engineer after identifying the projectname and other information associated with the project, selects atemplate regarding the type of substation selected. The type ofsubstation may either be a single unit design-left, single unitdesign-right, two unit design, or a unit designed with a 115 kV breaker.Other templates describing other arrangements may be used as well. Afterselecting the substation template, the engineer may then select the toprated MVA, a measure of apparent power.

[0045] The engineer then selects the ground grid spacing, from apredetermined set of spacings, as shown. Subsequently, the engineerselects the wall height surrounding the substation, swing grill, fixedgrill, and mandoors. After all the selections are made, the operatorclicks the “OK” button to complete the selections. Once clicked, theselections are saved in memory.

[0046] The above discussion was directed to step S5 in FIG. 2, and afterthis step, the process proceeds to step S7 if the user desires to makedesign selections for the switch gear associated with the substation.The reason why the switch gear is made into a separate dialog box, isthat the switch gear may have some unique features in it depending onthe operational goals of the substation. Accordingly, standardization ofthe substation is made separate from that of the switch gear, so as tomaximize the flexibility for the engineer when designing the substation.Switch gear selections may also be incorporated into the substationcomponent selections. An example of the dialog box which is displayed instep S7 is shown in FIG. 10B. In FIG. 10B, the different number offeeders, shown in left and right configurations, are provided as well asthe switching gear options as shown. While the number of feeders isshown to be 2, 3 or 4, it is possible also to include a greater numberof feeders, such as for a 30 MVA system. Greater or lesser number offeeders than that displayed are available for use in the presentinvention. After the user has selected all the options in FIG. 10B, theuser clicks the “OK” button and the process proceeds to step S9 in FIG.2.

[0047] Switch gear is a disconnecting device and a metering device.Power is brought in from the transformer into the switch gear and thenhas feeders that extend therefrom into separate circuits. Disconnectingdevices, such as circuit breakers, are included on each circuit. In thisway, it is known how much power is being used on each of the feeders, byway of the meter. Each of the circuits are thus separately protected andthis control and monitoring of the respective circuits may occurindependently, so that if lightening, for example, were to hit one ofthe feeders, then that event would be detected and the feeder may bedisconnected without damaging the other feeders.

[0048] Information that is input by the engineers in the respectivedialog boxes is collected by way of a AutoLISP routine that takes therespective choices, compiles the choices and takes the compilation ofchoices to an associative mechanism, that retrieves respective symbolsfrom the symbol library in the memory 126 for retrieval. Once thesymbols are retrieved, the symbols are then overlayed in a drawing, asis the case in step S9 as shown in FIG. 2.

[0049] In FIG. 2, after step S9, the process proceeds to step S11, wherea 3-D model of the unit substation and construction drawings are createdand printed out, based upon whether the user selects to create the hardcopy of the drawings at that time. The hard copies are printed by way ofthe print server 130 on the plotter 136 of FIG. 1. The drawings may alsobe sent electronically to a remote location, such as a governmentfacility for review and approval.

[0050] In FIG. 2, once the drawing set has been created, the operatorhas the choice of proceeding to step S15, from S11. Alternatively, theoperator may proceed directly to step S15, by way of step S3 aspreviously discussed. In step S1 5, the user selects from a pull-downmenu the estimate/materials list operation. When selected, anotherAutoLISP routine extracts the attributes associated with the selectedsymbols from the ACCESS database. In this way, the attribute informationmay be sent to a template file for presentation to the end user in amaterials list. Another AutoLISP routine takes the information that hasbeen extracted, launches the EXCEL program and passes the information ina text file that has been taken from AutoCAD to EXCEL where the templateaccepts the information and presents it in an EXCEL compatible format.When extracting the information, the attribute information that wastaken from AutoCAD perhaps may be representative of multiple components,but the template recognizes the multiple components as a group, andtherefore can present the materials list and cost estimate in a cohesivemanner. Thus, extraction involves an identification of the componentsand then based on the components identified, the attribute informationassociated with those components is retrieved, as previously stored inACCESS or even EXCEL. This code extraction process is shown as step S17in FIG. 2. The output of step S17 is a hard copy of an equipment listand cost estimate, based on the different components included in thesubstation, as designed.

[0051]FIG. 3 is a flowchart describing a method for automaticallymodifying a preexisting utility station, such as a substation. Theprocess begins in step S100 where the AutoCAD application is launched.The process then proceeds to step S101 where a selectable menu presentsoptions for modifying an existing facility (step S103), or for selecting115 kV equipment from a particular pull-down menu, as indicated in stepS113. If the user elects the path of the step S103, the process thenproceeds to step S105, where the user is presented with a dialog boxrequesting information regarding the pre-existing drawing set to bemodified. The process subsequently proceeds to step S107, where theexisting AutoCAD drawing is located and loaded externally as an XREF, anexternally referenced file. This XREF file may not be modified, but newcomponents may be added thereto. The process then proceeds to step S109,where the drawing set is created. If however, the operator selects thepath of S1 13, after performing step S101, the process proceeds to allowselection or modification of unit and sub-switching station symbolsaccording to modifications made by the user. The process then proceedsto step S109, discussed above.

[0052] From either step S101 directly, or from step S109, the processproceeds to step S115 and then step S117, which performs similaroperations to those described in step S15 and step S17 of FIG. 2.Subsequently, the user has the option of making a hard copy of thedrawing set.

[0053]FIGS. 4A and 4B provide a logical flow diagram for the respectivemenus, macros and AutoLISP routines performed by the present invention.The respective boxes are color coded, as seen, indicating whether therespective steps in the process are pull-down menu items (dark blue),sub-menu items (lighter blue), menu macro operations (purple), dialogboxes (grey), AutoLISP routines (yellow shaded), or an EXCEL spreadsheet(yellow). The process begins in step S400 where the application isstarted and then the process proceeds to step S401 where a 3-D equipmentlayout/equipment pull-down menu is presented. An example of thispull-down menu is shown in FIG. 9. Respective steps S403, S413, S419,S423, S427, S443, S451, S457, S465, S475, S485, S487, S497, S553, S557,S563, and S571, are steps that are accessible by way of the pull-downmenu presented in step S401. For clarity purposes, only selected stepsin FIGS. 4A and 4B are discussed herein, as it is believed that thelogical process flow and labels provided on the respective labels aswell as the arrows indicating the logical process flow for the processis clear.

[0054] The process proceeds from step S401 to step S403, when the userselects the menu item “New Standard 115 kV Unit Sub”. Then, aspreviously discussed, the process proceeds to step S405, where the useris provided with a dialog box identifying the different items that maybe selected by the engineer. At this point, the operator has the optionof going directly into the estimate operation which is performed in stepS409, that provides the dialog information that is extracted to a textfile and provided to the EXCEL spreadsheet. On the other hand, if theprocess proceeds from S405 to step S407, the switch gear design dialogbox is presented to the user, for component selection by the user.Subsequently, the unit substation routine S14 is performed, where aspreviously discussed with respect to FIG. 2, the substation is designedbased on the standard templates and prestored symbols, which wereidentified by the user in the dialog boxes presented in steps S405 andS407.

[0055] In step S413, the operator indicates that the operator would liketo modify an existing facility, and is presented with a dialog box instep S415, which receives input from the user, and provides thatinformation to the estimate dialog information in step S409, and updatesthe information contained in the drawing set, in the exist routine S417.

[0056] Each of the remaining steps in FIGS. 4A and 4B, follow aconsistent pattern, where depending on the feature to be included in thedrawing set, the operator simply selects one of the items from the 3-Dsub-menu items listed on the left-hand side of FIG. 4B. In each case,the process then performs a logical flow to other routines, selections,as well as dialog boxes, for identifying symbols associated with theparticular feature to be included in the substation design, and thenpresented as part of a cohesive drawing package, as was the case withthe complete design process previously discussed. As the features andlabels of each of the other elements are believed to be clear to one ofordinary skill in the power engineering art, and particularly in theunit substation design art, further discussion of the informationcontained in FIGS. 4A and 4B is not believed to be necessary,particularly when interpreted in light of the complete descriptionprovided herein.

[0057]FIG. 5 is a 3-D perspective view of what a typical substation maylook like after being built from the construction drawings made with thesystem and method of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows examples ofparticular symbols, contained within the symbol library, as previouslydiscussed. In a 3-D rendering of such a substation, according to thepresent invention, a plan view of similar structure is shown in FIG. 7.A perspective view of the substation shown in FIG. 7, is also shown inFIG. 8. For each of the system components shown in FIGS. 7 and 8,corresponding attributes for the components are used to form thematerials list and cost estimate, as previously discussed. Furthermore,symbols for the respective components have been saved in the symbollibrary.

[0058]FIGS. 9 and 10A-10B have previously been discussed.

[0059]FIG. 11 is an exemplary dialog box that would be presented to auser, prompting the user for information regarding the preparation ofthe materials list and cost estimate associated with the substationdesigned according to the present invention. A description of how theestimate program operates is provided on pages A-1 through A-38, whichfollow the Abstract. These pages are then followed by pages A-39 throughA-44, which present supplemental information.

[0060] The processes set forth in the present description may beimplemented using a conventional general purpose microprocessorprogrammed according to the teachings of the present specification, aswill be appreciated to those skilled in the relevant art(s). Appropriatesoftware coding can be readily prepared by skilled programmers based onthe teachings of the present disclosure, as will also be apparent tothose skilled in the relevant arts.

[0061] The present invention thus also includes a computer-based productthat may be hosted on a storage medium and include instructions that canbe used to program a computer to perform a process in accordance withthe present invention. The storage medium may include, but is notlimited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks,CD-ROMs, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, flashmemory, magnetic or optical cards, or any type of media suitable forstoring electronic instructions.

[0062] Obviously, numerous modifications and various of the present arepossible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for designing a facility, comprising: astorage mechanism configured to store a plurality of symbols, thesymbols representing components of the facility; and a server coupled tothe storage mechanism and configured to display a plurality ofpredefined layouts of the facility, the server being loaded with anassociation mechanism that applies the symbols to the predefined layoutsto generate a facility drawing set.
 2. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising an application server having a memory that stores a pluralityof attributes corresponding to the symbols.
 3. The system of claim 2,wherein the application server prepares at least one of a cost estimateand a materials list based upon the applied symbols.
 4. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the application server is configured to run at leastone of a database application and a spreadsheet application to processthe plurality of attributes.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein thestorage mechanism is accessible by a plurality of user stations.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the server provides a plurality of dialogboxes to guide selection of the symbols.
 7. The system of claim 6,wherein the plurality of dialog boxes are hierarchically arranged withrespect to layers of the facility drawing set.
 8. The system of claim 1,wherein the facility includes by at least one of a utility facility, awater facility, and a gas facility.
 9. The system of claim 1, whereinthe facility drawing set comprises construction drawings.
 10. A methodof designing a facility, the method comprising: selecting a facilitylayout among a plurality of standard facility layouts; retrieving aplurality of symbols from a symbol database based upon the selectingstep, the symbols representing components of the facility; associatingthe symbols with the selected facility layout; overlaying the symbolsonto the selected facility layout; and generating a facility drawing setbased upon the overlaying step.
 11. The method of claim 10, furthercomprising: displaying a plurality of design dialog boxes based upon theselecting step, the design dialog boxes providing prompts to guideselection of the components of the facility; and receiving input designinformation in accordance with the dialog boxes.
 12. The method of claim10, further comprising retrieving a plurality of attributescorresponding to the symbols.
 13. The method of claim 12, furthercomprising processing the plurality of attributes using at least one ofa database application and a spreadsheet application.
 14. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising generating at least one of a cost estimateand a materials list based upon the overlaid symbols and thecorresponding attributes.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein thefacility includes by at least one of a utility facility, a waterfacility, and a gas facility.
 16. A computer-readable medium carryingone or more sequences of one or more instructions for designing afacility, the one or more sequences of one or more instructionsincluding instructions which, when executed by one or more processors,cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of: retrieving aplurality of symbols from a symbol database based upon a selectedfacility layout among a plurality of standard facility layouts, each ofthe standard facility layouts corresponding to a plurality of symbols,the symbols representing components of the facility; associating thesymbols with the selected facility layout; overlaying the symbols ontothe selected facility layout; and generating a facility drawing setbased upon the overlaying step.
 17. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 16, wherein the one or more processors further perform the stepsof: displaying a plurality of design dialog boxes, the design dialogboxes providing prompts to guide selection of the components of thefacility; and receiving input design information in accordance with thedialog boxes.
 18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein theone or more processors further perform the step of retrieving aplurality of attributes corresponding to the symbols.
 19. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the one or more processorsfurther perform the step of processing the plurality of attributes usingat least one of a database application and a spreadsheet application.20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the one or moreprocessors further perform the step of generating at least one of a costestimate and a materials list based upon the overlaid symbols and thecorresponding attributes.
 21. The computer-readable medium of claim 16,wherein the facility includes by at least one of a utility facility, awater facility, and a gas facility.